Yacht club faces hurdles

PORTSMOUTH — The proposal to build a yacht club at Witch Cove Marina has been put on hold.

Adam Leech

PORTSMOUTH — The proposal to build a yacht club at Witch Cove Marina has been put on hold.

The plan was scheduled to go in front of the Zoning Board of Adjustments Tuesday night, but was postponed. It is likely to be pushed back until August or later, according to Planning Director Rick Taintor.

Owner J.P. Nadeau and Witch Cove Marina Development LLC, seek to build a yacht club and three residential units on the 3.7-acre marina at 187 Wentworth Road. The residential components, as well as expanded parking across the street, require variances and a special exception from the ZBA.

Taintor said the applicant will first go in front of the Conservation Commission, possibly on Aug. 12, seeking approval for impacts to the wetlands.

"There a number of issues ... including wetlands filling in the planned parking lot and, according to the plans, there were a number of structures to be built in the tidal wetlands buffer," said Taintor. "So at this point (the ZBA hearing) is delayed to a date uncertain."

The commission would then make a recommendation to the Planning Board, which has the final say. Then the project would go to the ZBA and eventually back to the board for site review.

Portsmouth Kayak Adventures would continue to operate at the marina, and the 90-slip dock would remain unchanged. Several older buildings would be demolished or moved to make way for a 6,000-square-foot, two-story club that would operate like a country club and include dining facilities.

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